Sports Briefs

SAN FRANCISCO | Hall of Fame fullback Joe Perry, the first player with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and nicknamed “The Jet” for his speed, has died. He was 84.

The San Francisco 49ers announced that Perry died Monday in Arizona of complications from dementia.

Perry was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969 following a 16-year NFL career, 14 years with the 49ers and the other two for the Baltimore Colts.

A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Perry still stands as San Francisco’s all-time leader in yards rushing (7,344) and touchdowns rushing (50). He led the 49ers in rushing on eight occasions, including seven consecutive seasons from 1949-1955.

SOCCER

For Manchester’s Gibson, parting is such tweet sorrow

LONDON | Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson’s social networking experiment proved short-lived when he closed his Twitter account Monday just two hours after opening it following a flood of abusive comments.

Gibson, a bit-part player at Old Trafford, followed United teammates Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen in joining Twitter, and Ferdinand encouraged his followers to “show him some love.”

Instead Gibson was greeted by some less-than-welcoming remarks, many of which appeared to be from United supporters. One of the posts said “nothing would make me happier than if we sold you this summer.”

BASKETBALL

Lakers’ Caracter charged over restaurant incident

NEW ORLEANS | Authorities say Los Angeles Lakers forward Derrick Caracter was arrested in New Orleans, accused of public drunkenness and shoving a pregnant cashier at a pancake restaurant.

Police said Caracter, 22,was arrested early Sunday and booked into jail on charges of battery, public drunkenness and resisting arrest. They said he allegedly grabbed and shoved the cashier at an International House of Pancakes after he was refused service and became belligerent. The woman wasn’t injured.